Cultivator



H. RETTIG.

#Wg @We ATTORNEY H. RETTIG.

cuLlvAoR.

. APPLICATION FILED MAY I4, 192|. 1,404,544. Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

` SHEETS-SHEET 2- a /ffff Z0 [f5 I J0 #7 INVENTOR/ WITNESSES ATTO R N EY H. RETTIG.

CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY|4.192|.

Patented Jan. 24,1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVEN'roRl l WITNESSES ATTORN EY PATENT OFFICE.

HERY RETTIG, F REDLAIN DS, CALIFORNIA.

cULTIvAToR.

Specification of Letters Patent. 'Patented J 3,11. 24, 1922.

- AApplication led May 14, 1921. Serial No. 469,434. v

To all whom z'tmay concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY RETTIG, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Redlands, in the county of San Bernardino and State of California, have invented a new and useful Cultivator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cultivators and is more particularly directed to a cultivator which is capable of being used with a tractor for cultivating the soil of orchards.

A disadvantage of all implements of this kind is that when the same are operated on uneven ground one portion of the cultivator will always be more materially raised than the other and likewise the tools on the rigid frame are raised at one portion of the frame more than at any other portion. It will be -seen that the penetrating power of the tool will be seriously affected, and -unless some means is provided whereby one portion of the frame may work independently of the other portion, in order to counteract the different degrees of penetration of the tools attached to the frame, some portion of the ground will be less cultivated than other portions.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved cultivator which comprises a plurality of sections pivoted at a point in the rear of a tractor in such a manner that the sections may move independently of each other in the same are of a circle but in planes that are parallel to each other.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved cultivator which is formed in two sections movable independently of each other and Yin the sam plane.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved cultivator which is formed of two sections, each section being resiliently held in depressed position so that as the sections are carried over uneven ground, there will be permitted a certain amount of p-lay between the seetions, thus insuring the same degree of penetration of all the tools.

AStill another object of the invention is the provision of` a new and improved cultivator which is not only provided with a plurality of independently movable main frames but with a pluralityr of auxiliary frames movable independently of the main frames and adapted to be raised in an inoperative position when that portion of the cultivator meets with an obstacle in order to permit the tractor to maintain a direct forward travel.

This invention further contemplates a new and improved cultivator pro-vided with independently movable main frames equipped with spaced tools and a toolequipped auxiliary frame pivoted on the outer end of the main frames and adapted tov be automatically locked thereon as the auxiliary frames are moved from an inoperative position to an operative position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved cultivator provided with a plurality of alined frames, certain of said frames being adapted to be moved in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the other frames.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a cultivator having a wide sweep with supporting frames and hand-operated controlling means whereby all the frames may be moved independently of the others.

The invention will be best understood, fromy a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of Ythis specification, with the understanding,

however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawing, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications ,mark no material departure from the salient features of the. invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal view in section of the cultivator.

Fi 2 is a rear view of the cultivator showing the tool-equipped frames in operative position on a tractor.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cultivator disclosing the rear end of the tractor and the 'tool-equipped frame in position.

Fig. 4 shows a transverse section of the tool-equipped main frames and the auxll- -iary tool-equipped frames pivoted to the mam frames.

Fig. 5 is a detail -view of the au'xillary frame pivotedvon the main frame dlsclosmg a plan view of the operating mechanismy for the auxiliary frame.

In the drawings, 1 designates generally a tractor provided with a rear axle housing` 2, a drive shaft housing 3 upon which is secured the seat 4, a steering wheel 5 and wheels 6.

Secured to the rear axle housing 2 by means of the straps 7 are rearwardlyextending brackets 8. The ends of the brackets are supported by means of brace rods 9 which are connected in any suitable manner to brackets 10 on the drive shaft housing 3.

The ends of the brackets are perforated, and through these perforations is secured a rod 11 by means of cotter pins 12 passing thr-ough perforations in the ends of this rod. Pivoted near the opposite ends of this rod by means of straps 13 are spaced anglebars 14 and 15. Spaced angle bars 16 and 17 are secured at right angles to the ends of the angle bars 14 and 15, by means of rivetsor bolts so that the free ends 18 and 19, respectively, of the bars 16 and 17 extend outwardly from the bars 14 and 15 and transversely of the tractor.

Spaced -at intervals along these bars are secured tools 20. A brace bar 21 extending diagonally with respect to the bars 14, 15 and 16, 17 is secured to these bars and form a brace for the same.

The'tools may not only be spaced along the frame but likewise they may bespaced relative to each other in such a manner as to form spaced rows of tools, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

lVhile I haveA described one frame as pivoted to the bar 11, it must be remembered that another frame of similar construction is pivoted on this bar at its o posite end and extends in opposite directions rearwardly of the tractor.

Upon the end of each of said frames, just described, is pivotally. mounted an auxiliary frame 22 comprising parallel bars 23, 24 pivoted by means of the bolt 25 passing through the parallel bars 23, 24 and the parallel bars 18, 19. The Shanks of tools 20 which are similar in respect to the tools pivoted to the main frames are secured to the ends of each auxiliary frame by means of the plates 26.

Upon each bracket 8 is secured a U-shaped member 27 provided with a toothedl sector 28 and a bar 29 secured at its ends to the legs of the U-shaped member 27. An operating lever 30 is pivoted to the bar 29 and carries a pawl 31 operated bythe bell crank lever 32 through a link 32* to engage the notches 33 in the sector 28. A link 34 ivoted at one end to the lever 30 has a sli ing connection by means of the slot 35, in its opposite end and a pin 36' secured -in the end of a brackety 37,'the said bracket being formed by means of the rods 38, 39 which are secured to the angle bars 16, 17, respectively. A compression spring 40, surroundv permitted a movement ing the link 34, engages the pin 41'at one end and the end of the bracket 37 at its other end in order to force the bracket rearwardly and maintain the tool-equipped frames in depressed position.

A lever 42 is pivoted on a sleeve 43 which is located on a bolt 44 passing through the angle bars 16, 17. The sleeve- 43 and the sleeve 43a are designed to maintain the bars 23 and 24 in spacedfrelation through the bolts 44 and 47. The lever 42 is connected by means of a link 45 to a locking member 46 which is pivoted on the bolt 47 to the auxiliary frame 22. A plate 48 is secured to the angle bars 16, 17 and is adapted to coact with the latch member 49 of the locking lever 42 on the pivoted member 46 to hold the auxiliary frame 22 in locked position on the main frame when the lever 42 is placed in its lowermost position between the angle bars 16 and 17 of the main frame. Some form of means such as 50 is formed on the end of the lever 42 and provides a handle for grasping the lever 42 to operate the same. The handle 50 may be connected by links to a lever pivoted near the seat 4.

The operation of my device is as follows. Either of the main frames may be raised or lowered by depressing the bell crank lever 32, releasing the pawl 31 from the notches 33 in the sector 28 and either raisin or lowering the lever 30 whatever the pos1tion desired may be, to raise or lower one of the main frames from out of contact with the ground. It will be noted that a separate lever 30 is employed to operate each main frame in order that each frame ma be elevated or lowered independently o the other. If both main frames are lowered in operative position so that the tools 20 may penetrate the ground to be cultivated, it will be seen that they are movable independently of each other and that by reason of the compression sprin 40 there will be etween the two, which is'independent of each other, so that as the cultivator passes over uneven ground one frame may operate on the hilly portion while the other frame may be engaged in tearing the soil of the depressed portion of the ground. This permits an even penetration of the soil by the tools which would notl be the case were the frames of one piece so that one end would be more elevated 1- than another and a greater penetration would .be had'by one portion of the cultivator than by the other.

The auxillary frames are adapted to lie fora portion of their length between thel angle bars 16,17 when in depressed position, so that all the frames are in alinement with each other. When, in passing an object, it is desired to maintain a direct line of forward travel, either auxiliary frame may be raised in an inoperative position by grasping each other, a continued raising of the lever 42 will exert a pull upon the auxiliary frame .22 and raise it through the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 until it has reached its most elevated position, also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, Where it will be placed in inoperative position, and the driver may proceed with the cultivator and pass the object without changing his direction of travel. As soon as the object has been assed, he may again return the lever and l1nks to their former position when the auxiliary frame will again engage the soil by means of its tools 20, and the latch bar 46 will engage the bar 48, locking the auxiliary frame to the main frame.

If it be necessary to back the tractor, the operator may raise all the alined frames by means of the two levers 30 without operating the lever 42.

The tools operatejust behind the drive wheels of the tractor, which makes it much easier to handle the tractor since the toolequipped frames are constantly within the vision of the driver and it is not necessary for him to turn around to inspect the working of the cultivator.

This cultivator is not adapted to one kind of tractor but may be applied to all makes of tractors and can be used for any kind of cultivating purposes. Furthermore, the tool-equipped 'frames may readily be replaced `by other frames which are adapted for different purposes of cultivation by removing the two bolts or pins which fasten the links 34 to the brackets 37 and the cotter pins 12 from the rod 11, when the rod 11 may be removed from the brackets 8 and the auxiliary frames detached.

The cultivator may be equipped with but one main frame and an auxiliary frame adapted to be extended outwardly from the side ofthe trac`tor, or there may be employed two main frames one of which is equipped with an auxiliary frame, or a main frame and two auxiliary frames pivoted to the opposite side of the main frame or two main frames each being provided at their outer ends with a pivotally mounted auxiliary frame.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cultivator including a tractor provided with a rear axle housing, the combination of a plurality of tool-equipped frames pivoted in spaced relation to said housing and adapted to be raised or lowered rearwardly of the tractor, and a plurality of toolequipped auxiliary frames pivoted on the first-mentioned frames.

2. In a cultivator including a tractor pro` vided with a rear axle housing, the combination of a plurality of tool-equipped frames pivoted in spaced relation to said housing and adapted to be raised or lowered rearwardly of the tractor, a plurality of toolequipped auxiliary frames pivoted on the .first-mentioned frames, and means for moving the auxiliary frames in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the first-mentioned frames are operated.

3. In a cultivator including a tractor provided with a. rear axle housing, the combination with a plurality vof tool-equipped main frames pivoted in spaced relation to said housing and adapted to be raised or lowered rearwardly of the tractor, and a plurality of tool-equipped auxiliary frames pivoted on and in alinement with the main frames.

` 4. In a cultivator including a tractor provided with a rear axle housing, the combination with a plurality of tool-equipped main frames pivoted in spaced relation to said housing and adapted to be raised or lowered rearwardly of the tractor, a plurality of tool-equipped auxiliary frames pivoted on and in alinement with the main frames, and means for moving the auxiliary frames out of alinement with the main frame.

5. In a cultivator including a tractor provided with a rear axle housing, the combination of a plurality of tool-equipped main frames pivoted in spaced relation to said housing and adapted to be raised or lowered rearwardly of the tractor, a plurality of tool-equipped auxiliary frames pivoted on the main frames, means for raising or lowering the auxiliary and main frames toward and away from the rear of the tractor, and means for operating the auxiliary frames in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the first-mentioned frames are adapted to be operated.

6. In a cultivator including a tractor provided with a rear axle housing, the combination of a plurality of tool-equipped frames pivoted in spaced relation to said housing in horizontal alinement with each other, and movable independently of each other, and an auxiliary tool-equipped frame pivoted on and in horizontal alinement with one of the first-mentioned frames.

7. In a cultivator including a tractor provided with a rear axle housing, the combina- L equipped frame pivoted on and in horizontal alinement with one of the first-mentioned frames, means for raising or lowering said alined frames, and means for maintaining the frames in depressed position.

8. In a cultivator including a tractor pro- 'L vided with a rear axle housinghthe combination of a plurality of tool-equipped frames in horizontal alinement pivoted in spaced relation to said housing and movable independently of each other, and an auxiliary tool-equipped frame pivoted on and adapted to be seated for a portion of its length within one of the first-mentioned frames.

9. In a cultivator including a tractor provided with a rear axle housing, the combination of a plurality of tool-equipped frames pivoted in spaced relation to said housing and adapted to be raised or lowered rearwardly of the tractor, and a plurality of tool-equipped auxiliary frames pivoted on the first-mentioned frames, all of said frames being adapted to be moved independently of each other.

10. In a cultivator including a tractor pro- 'vided with a rear axle housing, the combination of a plurality of frames equipped with parallel rows of spaced tools and pivoted in spaced relation to said housing, said frames being adapted to be raised or lowered in a plane rearwardly of the tractor, and a plurality of auxiliarv frames provided with spaced parallel rows of tools and adapted to be moved in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the movement of the irst-mentioned Jframes in order to aline the parallel rows of tools of the auxiliary frames with the parallel rows of tools of the first-mentioned frame when said auxiliary frame is placed in operative position. A

11. In a cultivator including a tractor provided with a rear axle housing, the combination of a plurality of main frames comprising bars secured at right angles to each other, certain of said bars being pivoted in spaced relation to the axle housing, the other bars being provided with tools, and an auxiliary frame pivoted between the second-mentioned bars and adapted to be seated for a portion of its length between the second-mentioned bars when the auxiliary Jframe is placed in operative position.

12. In a cultivator including a tractor provided with a rear axle housing, the combination of a pair of brackets secured on said housing, a rod secured in the free ends of the brackets, a plurality of tool-equipped frames pivoted on said rod and movable in.

dependently of each other, a U-shaped member secured on each bracket, a lever pivoted on each of said U'shaped members, and a link connecting each lever with one of the toolequipped frames.

13. In a cultivator including a tractor provided with a rear axle housing, the combination of a pair of brackets secured on said housing, a rod secured in the free ends of the brackets, a plurality of tool-equipped frames pivoted on said rod and movable independently of each other, a U-shaped member secured on each bracket, a lever pivoted on each of said U-shaped members, links connecting each of said levers with one of the tool-equipped frames, and auxiliary toolequipped frames pivoted near the outer end of said first-mentioned frames and adapted to be moved at right angles to the plane of brackets secured at one end to the housing, a

rod secured in the free ends of the brackets, a plurality of tool-equipped main frames pivoted on said rod and movable independently of each other, a tool-equipped auxiliary frame pivoted to one of the main frames and adapted to. be moved in a vertical plane passing through the main frame, and means for locking the auxiliary frames in operative position. v

16. In a cultivator including a tractor provided with a rear axle housing, spaced brackets secured on the rear axle housing, a plurality of tool-equipped main frames in horizontal alinement and pivoted on said brackets and adapted to be raised or lowered rearwardly of the tractor, a tool-equipped auxiliary frame pivoted on one of and in horizontal alinement with the main frames, means for depressing the auxiliary frame in horizontal alinement with the main frames, and means for automatically locking the auxiliary frame to the main frame when said auxiliary frame is depressed.

17. In a cultivator including a tractor provided with a rear axle housing, a bracket secured-to said housing, a rod mounted in the free ends of said bracket, a plurality of toolequipped main frames pivoted on the rod and adapted to be raised or lowered rearwardly of the tractor, a tool-equipped auxiliary frame pivoted on and seated within one of the main frames for a portion of its length, means Jfor locking the auxiliary frame to the main frame, and means for maintaining all the frames in a depressed position.

18. In a cultivator includinga tractor provided with a rear axle housing, the combination of brackets secured on said housing, a member for bracing the free ends of the brackets, a rod secured in the free ends of said brackets, a plurality of tool-equipped main frames pivoted in/horizontal alinement on said rod, said frames being movable independently of each other, means for maintain- 'ing said frames in depressed position, a toolequipped auxiliary frame pivoted on one of said main frames, means for operating the main frames independently of each other, and means for operating the auxiliary frame at right angles to the main frame, said means automatically locking the auxiliary frame in an operative position and in any of the positions of the main frame.

19. In a cultivator including a tractor provided with a rear axle housing, the combination of brackets secured on said housing, a rod mounted on the free ends of said brackets, a plurality of tool-equipped main frames pivoted on the rod, a tool-equipped auxiliary frame pivoted on the end of one of the main frames, a lever pivoted on the main frame, a latching member pivoted on the auxiliary frame and connected by a link to the lever, said lever being' adapted to raise or lower the auxiliary frame.

20. In a cultivator including a tractor, provided with a rear axle housing, the combination with a plurality of tool-equipped main frames pivoted in spaced relation to said housing, and an auxiliary tool-equipped auxiliary frame pivoted on one of the main frames, a lever for raising the auxiliary frame pivoted to said main frame carrying the auxiliary frame, a latching member pivoted on the auxiliary frame and connected to the lever by a link, said lever being adapted when lowered to depress the auxiliary frame into operative position and force the latching mechanism into locking engagement with the main frame whereby the auxiliary frame is locked to the main frame.

21. In a cultivator including a tractor provided with a rear axle housing, a main frame pivoted in spaced relation to said housing, said main frame comprising spaced rearwardly extending bars, and spaced angle bars secured to the rearwardly extending bars and provided with tools, an auxiliary frame comprising spaced bars contiguous to and pivoted to the angle bars of the main frame, said last mentioned bars being provided with tools.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto alixed my signature.

HENRY RETTIG. 

